13 terrorists detained in N. Afghan province: gov't

The Afghan security forces have captured 13 terrorists in the country's northern province of Takhar, the National Directorate for Security (NDS) said on Wednesday.

"The personnel of NDS have arrested 13 members of a terrorist gang following a recent operation in surrounding areas of Takhar province," the intelligence agency confirmed in a statement.

An AK-47 gun, a pistol, two hand grenades had also seized during the operation, the statement said, without revealing the exact date of the raid.

The captured men were involved in terrorist acts, including terror of local leaders and religious persons, kidnapping, and destructive activities in the province, it said.

The Afghan security forces have beefed up security operations against militants recently as the Taliban militant group has been attempting to take territory and consolidate its position during the winter in the Central Asian country.

In an unrelated incident, some 25 Taliban militants had been killed during an ongoing cleanup operation in Aab Kamari district, western Badghis province, acting provincial governor, Faiz Mohmmad Mirzada, told Xinhua earlier on the day.

"The raid started by army, police and NDS personnel a week ago. The joint forces captured three hideouts of the militants. And the operation will continue before the area is cleared of the militants. The raid also aims to evict the militants from pistachio forest in the mountainous far-flung district," the governor added.

The militant group has yet to make comments. Enditem